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The Importance of Administering Precise Nerve Blocks and Joint Injections

Nerve blocks, ganglion blocks, paravertebral blocks, trigger point, tendon and joint injections can all be very effective methods for treating chronic pain conditions. When you are suffering with degenerative disc disease, a facet joint disorder, herniated disc or other painful condition, a nerve block or joint injection can provide welcome relief that can last many months. But it’s important to note that the way these types of treatments are performed is critical to getting the best patient outcomes. For example, in order for a joint injection to provide you with relief, the medication needs to end up inside the joint space – not in the surrounding tissue. This is difficult to do without some kind of guidance mechanism. Along the same lines, when you’re undergoing a tendon injection, the medication needs to be administered into the membrane surrounding the tendon – not into the tendon itself. Again, without a look inside the body, how can you know the medication ends up where it needs to be?

In order to precisely perform blocks and injections, it’s critical that the pain doctor in Chandler use fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance. With fluoroscopic imaging, the physician watches an X-ray image as he or she performs the procedure; ensuring precise placement of medication. Ultrasound guidance, on the other hand, uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of what’s happening inside the body. This view also allows the physician to see exactly where the needle is located before releasing the medication. These guidance systems prove even more important when injecting patients who suffer with osteoarthritis or other degenerative diseases.

When choosing a back pain doctor in Chandler, be sure to do your due diligence and check that your block or injection will be performed with x-ray or ultrasound guidance.